Sleepless in Neverland. Dec 2009
Perhaps it is some type of chemical
that makes our girl quite so hysterical?
Or might there exist some magic delirium
provoking rare strain of childish terrorium?
Be there secret physio-lightswitch
sparking mad electric twitch ?
Triggering bedtime super-charging
making young yawner go barging?
But bedtime bell prompts patent scheming
Exiles all tiredness, signs of dreaming.
Where nodding off once plain to see
sub feigned distraction, nor fatigue to be.
Such skill, delays, such polished art
When lie down, game’s about to start
Conclude night’s reading, sense change of gear
when questions oblique my ears start to hear
At first one feels flattered, cute knowledge thirst
but zig-zag agenda transpires to be worst.
Excuses, subjects, wide converse engages
mull, regurgitate topics for ages & ages
Why and wherefore, so invitingly dangled
delay prospects of sleep from zillion angled
Eyes will not close unbidden to rest
bouncing off walls, this Duracell pest
Loud silly giggles and trying on riddles
leads many asks and going for piddles
Wriggling, fidgeting, kicking, and sighing
relaxing’s deep breaths, ‘mid thoughts sheep flying
For hours horizontal she’ll stare, think so hard
for flimsiest reasons to catch me off guard
The tossing, the turning, Dad stroking forehead
makes not jot of difference, resistance is torrid.
Till ‘leven thirty, we lie here a-trying
cannot slow thoughts, her mind’s not for dying
Time and again hints stillness to think
Then, as always pulls she from the brink
A word, a murmur, one breath’s all she needs
for my patient hours so swift to unseed
Each breath conjures such animal cunning
even shame politician’s tricks a running
Inventive and devious, ploys so transparent
“Resistance Is Futile” ‘pears clear to this parent
Again goes the light… again we get book
faint smile on dial hints this kid’s off hook
Come midnight hour and temper’s rising
so judge me not reader, angst hardly surprising
Exasperating eons! She only sags later
parent annoyance could hardly get greater ?
She can try all to test, and me heart attack give
but knows I so love her, I’ll always forgive.
(She’s still only nine. What the hell chance did men have anyway?)